3 monitors with Radeon 4250?

[CaptPmo]

Hello. I currently am using M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 mobo. With AMD Radeon 4250 onboard. I was looking for a suggestion. I want to run 3 monitors and wondered if I should purchase a seperate Graphics card??

 

[groundrat]

Yes. I don't know of any on board chipset that supports eyefinity. An HD7770 is a dependable inexpensive ($130) card that will support three monitors. But I need to know how much monitor you are wanting to drive. The higher the definition, the more power and memory is needed. I am running 4320X900 now and my 7850 2gb does just fine.

 

[jemm]

Yes, you should!

What is the budget for the card?

 

[CaptPmo]

Yes. I don't know of any on board chipset that supports eyefinity. An HD7770 is a dependable inexpensive ($130) card that will support three monitors. But I need to know how much monitor you are wanting to drive. The higher the definition, the more power and memory is needed. I am running 4320X900 now and my 7850 2gb does just fine.

Not sure in terms of how much monitor..... 3 23" LEDS I guess The graphics card budget is $200

 

[CaptPmo]

Yes, you should!

What is the budget for the card?

$200 is the budget

 

[groundrat]

That makes your native resolution for three monitors 5760x1080. You will need a HD7870 2gb MINIMUM to run large environments on that resolution smoothly. Sorry.

 

[CaptPmo]

That makes your native resolution for three monitors 5760x1080. You will need a HD7870 2gb MINIMUM to run large environments on that resolution smoothly. Sorry.

I know I was somewhat vague. I'm still researching. not really sure as far as resolution goes but I know I'm thinking 23". I currently have an Acer X223w . looking to purchase 2 more monitors. Any suggestions monitor-wise to step it down a notch?? Maybe not LED? LCD? Thanks in advance..for your quick responses!!

 

[Supermuncher85]

Yes. I don't know of any on board chipset that supports eyefinity. An HD7770 is a dependable inexpensive ($130) card that will support three monitors. But I need to know how much monitor you are wanting to drive. The higher the definition, the more power and memory is needed. I am running 4320X900 now and my 7850 2gb does just fine.

Hold the phone. Eyefinity and extending a screen are two different things. Eyefinity means in most cases running 3 screens as one. Meaning a single image (or desktop) will run as one. I.e. 3x1080p monitors will create ONE 5760x1080 screen. When extending eyefinity is NOT needed! Meaning you should have no problem creating an EXTENDED screen using the onboard GPU not requiring any additional cards! That is assuming the 880 chipset allows you to use the onboard gpu alongside with your current GPU (not 100% sure on that since I don't own a 880).

What's the difference between eyefinity and extended? Well imagine a taskbar that runs from the first screen to the last, and when you hit maximize it will enlarge that window over all screens with the X button being on the last. With extended when you hit maximize it will enlarge on one of your screens only. Not going over it though you can still enlarge it manually to others if you want. Gaming you want eyefinity, productivity extended.

 

[Supermuncher85]

As for screens I'm using 3x Acer 230hl. Not the best but for the $139 I can't complain.

 

[CaptPmo]

As for screens I'm using 3x Acer 230hl. Not the best but for the $139 I can't complain.

@ Supermuncher85 Is it possible to use 3 monitors for extended productivity (ie. multitasking) and then later watch a movie or game in Eyefinity???

 

[Supermuncher85]

Boing this is what I get for staying up late. I don't know where my head was, but for some reason I thought you had seperate GPU already.

So as groundrat said, you'll need some kind of additional GPU to run 3 screens, just the mobo GPU won't suffice, as it supports a maximum of two simultaneous monitors.

So if you want to just extend to a third screen for productivity, any cheap GPU will do. However gaming won't be an option.

If you want to game then again as groundrat said a 7870 or higher would be preferred.

Lastly to your question can you swap between eyefinity and extended screen modes? Absolutely. You literally press two keys to swap between the two modes.

Nvidia also offers 3 monitor gaming nowadays using a single card.

 

[CaptPmo]

Boing this is what I get for staying up late. I don't know where my head was, but for some reason I thought you had seperate GPU already.

So as groundrat said, you'll need some kind of additional GPU to run 3 screens, just the mobo GPU won't suffice, as it supports a maximum of two simultaneous monitors.

So if you want to just extend to a third screen for productivity, any cheap GPU will do. However gaming won't be an option.

If you want to game then again as groundrat said a 7870 or higher would be preferred.

Lastly to your question can you swap between eyefinity and extended screen modes? Absolutely. You literally press two keys to swap between the two modes.

Nvidia also offers 3 monitor gaming nowadays using a single card.

How about XFX Radeon HD 6750 1GB GDDR3 Video Card $60 refurb just to get me in the door?? Sorry Also, I'm not a gamer AT ALL, I will be using it for music production (Reason, ACID, Ableton Live etc.) Just an occasional movie in Eyefinity!!

 

[Supermuncher85]

You got a model number? I tried XFX website but they don't even list the 6750 (lol?). I assume yes, and from pictures I gathered it has a DVI, HDMI + DP port.

So assuming 3x dvi your setup would look like this:
dvi --> dvi
hdmi --> dvi (cable on amazon ~$4)
DP --> DVI ($30 on amazon) http://www.amazon.com/Accell-B087B-006B-DisplayPort-Single-Link-Certified/dp/B004071ZXA/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1367374758&sr=1-1&keywords=accell+dp+to+dvi

Just make sure you get the right size DP adapter. Most use mini-style DP (as do my 6950s), but some use the regular DP size. So make sure to order the right one! I always recommend Accell since I've had good luck with them and they work.

 

[CaptPmo]

You got a model number? I tried XFX website but they don't even list the 6750 (lol?). I assume yes, and from pictures I gathered it has a DVI, HDMI + DP port.

So assuming 3x dvi your setup would look like this:
dvi --> dvi
hdmi --> dvi (cable on amazon ~$4)
DP --> DVI ($30 on amazon) http://www.amazon.com/Accell-B087B-006B-DisplayPort-Single-Link-Certified/dp/B004071ZXA/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1367374758&sr=1-1&keywords=accell+dp+to+dvi

Just make sure you get the right size DP adapter. Most use mini-style DP (as do my 6950s), but some use the regular DP size. So make sure to order the right one! I always recommend Accell since I've had good luck with them and they work.

Heres the specs:
AMD® Radeon HD 6750 graphics processing unit (GPU)
720 stream processors
700 MHz core clock
1 GB DDR3 memory
128-bit memory interface
1.3 GHz memory clock
PCI Express 2.1 interface
Microsoft® DirectX 11
OpenGL 4.1
Adobe flash
3rd Generation TeraScale Engine
Accelerated Video Transcoding, Encoding, and Upscaling
AMD® PowerPlayTM Technology
Enhanced Unified Video Decoder (UVD 2)
Enhanced Internet Browser Application Support
Enhanced Microsoft® Office 2010 Support
HDMI 1.4a with support for stereoscopic 3D, Deep Color and xvyCC extended gamut
AMD® Eyefinity Technology
AMD® EyeSpeed Technology
AMD® CrossFireX multi-GPU Support
Connectors
Two (2) DVI-I ports
One (1) DisplayPort
One (1) HDMI
Regulato

 

[Supermuncher85]

Well that makes it pretty simple then with 2xDVI just need the active adapter (though not sure on size, I'd wait for the card to arrive). If it's USB size it's normal, if it's smaller it's a mini.

 

[CaptPmo]

Well that makes it pretty simple then with 2xDVI just need the active adapter (though not sure on size, I'd wait for the card to arrive). If it's USB size it's normal, if it's smaller it's a mini.

@Supermuncher85 I truly appreciate your time and expertise. I ordered the card a few minutes ago and i will wait to see what type of adapter i will need. Active adapter huh? ok Thanks again I cant wait....

 

[Supermuncher85]

Well don't give me all the credit groundrat had solid points, It was just too late for my brain to comprehend everything he wrote (which was all correct).

 

[groundrat]

Well don't give me all the credit groundrat had solid points, It was just too late for my brain to comprehend everything he wrote (which was all correct).

Thanks!. Right back atcha, big guy.

 

[CaptPmo]

Well don't give me all the credit groundrat had solid points, It was just too late for my brain to comprehend everything he wrote (which was all correct).

Thanks!. Right back atcha, big guy.

Groundrat....I apologize...I tried to send a comment from my phone but it didn't go through!!! Many thanks to you as well as you were the first to respond to me. And yes solid advice. I appreciate your expertise as well as Supermuncher85. I cant wait to get started when I receive my card and new monitor!! Many Thanks CaptPmo